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Second Opinion on Stoudemire Similar to First

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — The timetable for Amar’e Stoudemire’s return to the Knicks remained unclear Saturday. But Dr. Thomas Carter, whom Stoudemire consulted for a second opinion on the ruptured cyst in his left knee, mainly agreed with the Knicks’ medical staff: Stoudemire should be healthy by roughly the end of November.

Carter’s assessment of Stoudemire’s knee matched most of what the Knicks thought in terms of the severity of the injury and how long it would take to heal, said Happy Walters, Stoudemire’s agent. But Walters used the phrase “several more weeks” in describing what Carter felt should be the appropriate length of Stoudemire’s rehabilitation. The Knicks initially said Stoudemire would return to the team within two to three weeks.

In the past, the Knicks have recommended that players seek second opinions from personal doctors when they have been injured. A team spokesman said Stoudemire chose to have Carter look at his knee on his own.

“He is going to continue rehab and hope to come back sooner than later,” Walters said of Stoudemire in an e-mail.

Walters also attempted to calm worried Knicks fans through his Twitter account.

“To all of the Knicks fans sending me messages ... Stoudemire will be fine,” Walter wrote. “He’s working with team trainers. No one wants to be out there after working all summer on his game more than Stoudemire.”

Stoudemire, who is entering his 11th season, has had knee problems throughout his career, and he missed action during the preseason with a bruise on his left knee.

Rasheed Wallace participated with the Knicks in three sessions of full-court scrimmages. “I thought in the scrimmage he looked pretty good,” Coach Mike Woodson said. “His conditioning was in better shape than I thought. He went up and down the floor and made some shots.” ...The Knicks released Oscar Bellfield, Mychel Thompson, Henry Sims and John Shurna to get their opening day roster down to the mandatory 15 players. ... Chris Copeland, who impressed Woodson throughout the preseason, was the lone training camp invitee to make the roster.

A version of this article appears in print on October 28, 2012, on page SP8 of the New York edition with the headline: Second Opinion on Stoudemire Similar to First. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe